Thursday, April 12, 2012

Elegant Wrought Iron Gates and Fence: Before and After

New Fence, Gate, and Lanterns by Potter Art Metal Studios
You'd be surprised what a difference a new wrought iron gate and fence can do for your property.  I even have a before and after photo to help illustrate my point.
I loved designing the new custom made wrought iron gates (with solid brass details), fence and brass lighting for a residential building off Sherry Lane and Douglas, in Dallas.  Our client wanted a new and fabulous look for his two entrances, and so we jumped right in!  It was a great opportunity to make some really nice,  large scale, and heavy gates.  The pair of gates on one side of the multi-story building open in and the one pictured above is actually a slider which we made look like a matching pair; I thought they would look much more grand and inviting this way.  The lanterns have matching wrought iron brackets with a beautiful solid brass body.  They are proportioned to the existing posts.

wrought iron fencing matching the gates

The fence is actually quite simple, but very effective.  I love the elegant scrolls on the top; we made sure that all the scrolls were forged to a tip and had a lovely flow to them; otherwise the effect would not work and the fence would look like any off the shelf fencing out there.

Original Gate we replaced.
The original gate was too light weight and did not have much of an actual design; it was your regular off the shelf looking gate.  Because the building itself looks quite commercial, the gate did also.  Our client's visitors would constantly mistake the building for a commercial one and drive right past it; he wanted an impressive entrance so that all he'd have to say is "You'll know you're there when you see the gates."  ...and he got exactly what he wanted.

written by: Izabela Wojcik

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

CRÚ Food and Wine Bar: Contemporary Storefront



"We are the custom metalwork company for you!"...When Patrick Colombo came to our showroom with a request for a new, contemporary storefront for CRÚ, a Food and Wine Bar in the Upper Kirby District in Houston, we all got super excited because we happened to have been enjoying Patrick's Dallas based restaurants for quite a while now and CRÚ offers a glimpse into the sophisticated world of wines from all over the world.  Pair that with a large selection of delicious stone oven fried pizzas and artisan cheeses and you have got yourself a wonderful spot for an evening with friends and family filled with atmosphere like no other.


The storefront came out beautifully!  I especially love the understated door and the hardware we made for it.  I can't wait to drop by the next time I'm in Houston!   On that note, I'm going to leave you with a photo of the yummy pizza made at CRÚ!


written by: Izabela Wojcik



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The New Look of Highland Park Village

Recently HP Village got a facelift and we are proud to be a small, but fun part of the project!  One of our local designers, Elizabeth Robertson asked us to put on paper a flattering design, which melted right into the look of the Village.  We hand forged the new flower basket brackets on the  freshly installed post lamps.  I drove by the Village on the way back from a client's home, yesterday, and snapped a photograph of one of the flower pot brackets next to Jimmy Choo.  The lanterns in the background were also made by Potter Art Metal Studios... quite a few years ago.

Flower pot brackets and lantern made by Potter Art Metal


Most of the lanterns around the Village were originally made by Henry Potter, Richard Potter's (the current owner of Potter Art Metal Studios) grandfather.

Original HP dragon sketch by Potter Art Metal


I found an original sketch online from the Henry Potter Collection located in SMU's Hamon Arts Library (Bywaters Special Collection), which consists of several hundred shop sketches and accompanying invoices of lighting fixtures, furniture, and other items, primarily in iron.

Next time you drive by the Village, notice the interesting dragons and other beautiful Moorish lanterns spread throughout.

written by: Izabela Wojcik


Thursday, April 5, 2012

AIA Dallas: Retrospect Kick Off Party at Lombardi's CIBUS!


Starting to get excited about the AIA Dallas Retrospect Kick Off Party tonight at North Park's Cibus Italian Restaurant.
I received my invitation in the mail a while ago and the night has finally come!
Surrounded by a beautiful garden setting, the exhibition will showcase some of the best work Dallas architects have to offer, and I can't wait to hear all about it since Dallas happens to rock in that department... one of many...
Check out AIA Dallas; the Dallas Chapter of The American Institute of Architects.  Some of my favorites are right here in Dallas and we have gotten the privilege of working with them!

written by: Izabela Wojcik


House Hunting for the Rich and Famous in Dallas

Photo from khloekardashian.celebuzz.com
Every time I click on my remote control, I happen to run into a preview of Khloé Kardashian and Lamar Odom buying a house in Dallas.  Normally it would be just another preview, except that the first thing my eye is drawn to is the wrought iron railing in the background of the Khloé & Lamar clip airing April 1st on E! (which I will have to take a photo of and post in here next time I see.)  Just as a shoe maker can't help but be drawn to the lower end of a woman's body, I can't help but hone in onto wrought ironwork and lighting.  
I would so love to get my hands on the metal railing in the background of one of the clips and replace it with a hand forged custom design, as opposed to the off the shelf components spliced all over this one.  There is nothing wrong with off the shelf components per say... they are wonderful for certain projects, but I think that this particular design could use a little help.  Classy and timeless I say!
I have posted a suggestion below; modern yet timelss... Khloé, what do you say?
Love, Izabela


written by: Izabela Wojcik



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Wrought Iron Corbels


One of our clients decided on a granite top bar area by his swimming pool.  He thought he'd like wrought iron corbels as supports for the slab of granite.  We designed and hand forged them in iron and decorated them with ping hammered double copper banding.  I love wrought iron; they are gorgeous!

written by: Izabela Wojcik